The Michigan Daily-Saturday, February 11, 1978-Page{7
MORE LAST-MINUTE HEROICS?
Nail-biter expected in Spartan rematch
full court
PRESS__
Forwards rise .. .
.D. keep Blue alie
By ERNIE DUNBAR
T'S GOTTEN TO A point in the current Big Ten basketball season that
every game that follows for Michigan is a definite must win situation.
Realistically, the Wolverines can't lose another conference game and
still have a legitimate shot at winning the conference. There are only six
games left in the Big Ten after this afternoon's battle with MichiganState
and two of those games are with Indiana and Minnesota on the road.
Michigan finds itself in a position where victories are a premium,
whether they come from last second jump shots against Michigan State or
comfortable 11 point wins like the 85-74 success recorded against Ohio State
on Thursday.
Yet the Wolverines could have conceivably been out of the race after the
Ohio State game if forwards Mike McGee and Alan Hardy hadn't exploded
for a combined scoring effort of 51 points. McGee tossed in a career high 29
points, while Hardy hit for 22 points, 14 in the second half.
There was an air of apprehension surrounding the Buckeye game since
Joel Thompson had been nursing a 102 degree temperature on Wednesday.
No one was sure how long Thompson could play or how effective he'd be if he
did manage to fill the pivot.
It was obvious that someone else would have to help Joel out with his
rebounding duties and chip in with a few extra points to ease the center's
scoring responsibilities. The efforts from McGee and Hardy were just icing
on the cake.
Early in the first half, Michigan fell vkctim to the Buckeyes' 59 percent
shooting and trailed by four points with just over four minutes ticked off the
clock. McGee then reeled off 11 points in a row for Michigan, good for a one
point Wolverine advantage.
But Ohio State continued to keep the hot hand, pouring in eight straight
and taking a seven point lead which they didn't relinquish in the opening
half. McGee added six more points and five rebounds in the first stanza. Yet
Michigan was still lacking another scorer. Besides McGee's 17, Hardy had
eight and the rest of the starters and substitutes totaled 10.
One more for Orr
It was clear at halftime that Johnny Orr needed at least one more player
to match McGee's heroics. Thompson definitely wasn't his normal
aggressive self under the boards. But it is credit to Joel that he was even
in the game at all considering how sick he was with the flu.
Orr found that player he needed in Alan Hardy. After the two teams
traded baskets twice in the opening minutes of the second half, Hardy went
on a scoring binge of his own, netting 10 straight Michigan points. The Hardy
barrage put the Wolverines up 49-48, giving them the lead for the first time
since midway through the first half.
From that point on it was clear sailing for Michigan, as Ohio State's
shooting cooled off to 47 percent while the Wolverines were popping In
baskets at a 59 percent clip.
Following Orr's 100th Big Ten victory, McGee and Hardy took con-
trasting viewpoints about their approach to the game.
"I didn't get worried when I heard that Joel was sick," McGee said. "We .
have a good team. I knew we'd have someone else come through."
However Hardy was a little more concerned than his counterpart at for-
ward. "I was scared for a minute when I heard that Joel was sick," com-
mented the 6-6 forward. "JT (Thompson) is like the team. The whole team P
centers around him. But our offense is gauged to the forwards first. We have
the ball a majority of the time so we'll score more. Tonight it (the scorings
responsibility) fell on Mike and I."r
In explaining his career high scoring shooting night, the 6-5 McGee said,
"I was getting open a lot off the screens. I had three inches on Carter Scott
(6-2) soI was getting some pretty good shots."
Both players were rather modest about their scoring efforts.
"I just try to play the game hard and take it as it comes. You get a lot off
the boards if you're around."
"I feel that I should be doing a lot better truthfully," said Hardy, despite
hitting 10 of 15 shots from the floor. "I'm trying to concentrate more on just
looking for my shots. But if I concentrate on that too hard, then I'll mess up.
But overall I think I've been doing a pretty good job and I just hope to con-
tinue to do better and better." .
The success of McGee and Hardy isn't something which has just popped
up recently though. Over the past ten games, McGee has led Michigan in
scoring eight times while Hardy has grabbed honors the other two occasions.
Heading down the stretch in the Big Ten schedule, McGee and Hardy
will be called on more frequently to make up for the lack of scoring currently
being displayed from the backcourt. Along with a healthy Thompson, they
must continue to take charge offensively and play up to their potential much
like they displayed against Ohio State.
By RICK MADDOCK
Only nine days ago Michigan's Mark
Lozier became the Wolverine cager
fans' hero by firing, a cross-continental
jumper at the buzzer, handing his team
a 65-63 upset victory. Michigan knocked
off the mighty Spartans in their own
gym, making the Wolverines the only
victorious visitor at Jenison this
season.
Lozier, a sophomore guard from
Logansport, Indiana who seems to have
a knack of playing tough in crucial
games, wants no part of the hero role
today, however.
"I HOPE I don't have to take another
last second shot. I hope we're ahead, so
we don't need another last second
shot," Lozier said.
But he and his teammates know that
they will have to be extra-prepared for
the tenth ranked team in the country if
they plan on being comfortably ahead
in the waning moments of the game.
"We have to be even more fired up
than them. We've got to be ready to
go," Lozier said. "I just can't believe
that they're going to be anything but
sky-high."
Yes, the Spartans will have their
adrenalin flowing, especially coming
off a thrilling one-point victory over
Iowa on Thursday night. That win left
Michigan State on top of the Big Ten all-
alone, because while the Spartans were
winning, Purdue (who was tied with
them) was losing to Indiana.
THE SPARTANS are overjoyed that
senior guard Bob Chapman broke his
scoring slump in THursday's game.
The, three-year letter winner from
Saginaw had scored a total of eight
points in his previous three games
before breaking loose withr22 against
the Hawkeyes. Against Michigan he
had only three points.
The Iowa contest may cause after-
effects for the Spartans today. They
may be tired fromboth the close battle
and the travelling. The team arrived in
THE LINEUPS
MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN STATE
Mike McGee (6-5) ..........F........ Earvin Johnson (6-8)
Alan Hardy (6-6) ............F....,....... Greg Kelser (6-7)
Joel Thompson (6-8) .......,.C............ Jay Vincent (6-8)
Tom Staton (6-3) .........G.......... Bob Chapman (6-2)
Dave Baxter (6-3) .......... G........ Terry Donnelly (6-1)
East Lansing yesterday afternoon and personal vendetta to atone for the other
headed immediately to practice. game," Heathcote said. "We think the
However, the coaches don't think Iowa game is just as important Big Ten
fatigue will be much of a factor, wise, but we're not fooling anyone. We
"It (fatigue) won't have any more ef- know the importance of this game
fect on one team than the other, state-wide."
although we'll be home," said Michigan Moving east on Interstate 96 the
coach Johnny Orr. "Our game wasn't feeling is similar. "Whoever comes into
exactly easy." the gym we want to beat them," said
"They haven't been sharp for a num- Michigan's Alan Hardy. "We don't like
ber of games," Spartan coach Jud State. We want to beat them niore than
Heathcote said about his team. "But anyone else because of the rivalry tn
maybe it's that time of the year as the the state.''
season goes. I think definitely there's EVERYONE CONCERNED with this
an emotional factor involved in playing game centers on the rivalry. This yeas,
Michigan, and I think that will work to a dogfight between four teams - in-
our advantage." cluding the two from Michigan - puts
HEATHCOTE ADDED that if this more on the line than just the state
were "under ordinary circumstances" bragging rights. This game will attract
the Spartans could be headed for a let more people to Crisler Arena then ever,
down. since extra press facilities and standing
"Both clubs, recognize and respect room have been added putting the ex-
the ability of the other club. We have n ected crowd between 15,000-16,000.
McGee: 'Won't tr
to outdo arvin
By DAVE RENBARGER
Mike McGee is a freshman with his head screwed on straight.
Time and time again the sweet-shooting 18-year-old newcomer has
proved this-coping with the pressure-packed role as Michigan's leading
scorer amid the tighter-than-ever Big Ten scramble.
But, more admirably, the soft-spoken McGee has steadfastly refused to
let the spotlight of the media focus on him, preferring to divide the exposure
equally among his teammates.
And yesterday, as the Wolverines completed a light workout in an at-
mosphere oozing with anticipation, McGee stuck to his guns. This afternoon,
when Michigan squares off against the world-renowned Earvin Johnson'and
his Spartan comrades, you can rest .assured that McGee will be thinking
about helping his teammates stick State, and not about himself outdueling
Earvin.
"I won't be out there trying to outdo Earvin," said McGee. "I'll just be
out there trying to win the game. Everything else is secondary."
But what about the inevitable comparisons between the two first-year
success stories? Personally, McGee would rather not compare.
"That's all for the fans," said McGee. "They come to the games to see
the best players and compare them. . . It's hard for me to compare or say
who's better.
"I'm probably quicker than Earvin, but he passes better than I do. He's
been playing guard-I play forward. He's 6-8-I'm 6-5. He likes to pass-I
like to shoot."
And so it goes. Out of respect for Johnson's abilities, McGee graciously
declines to make any final judgments. A few things, however, are clearcut.
As a pure shooter, few people can rival McGee, who is currently second
among all Big Ten scorers (20.0 ppg). When it comes to getting the ball to the,
open man, Johnson, the conference's leading assist man, has few peers.
And, when it comes to publicity, Earvin is definitely in a class by him-
self. While McGee realizes that his Spartan rival must lead the league in
headlines, he isn't about to let it affect his play.
"If we win the Big Ten, I figure that everybody will get their share of
publicity," McGee explained. "It makes everyone look good, not just one
player . . . A lot of teams can focus too much on one player and that can
corrupt a team. Like at State with Earvin. (Spartans Bob) Chapman and
(Greg) Kelser probably don't like it too much (with Johnson always in the
limelight)."
McGee has an opportunity to change a few things with today's contest. If
he should lead the Wolverines to another triumph over MSU, then fans
around the state will see the name Mike McGee popping up more and more.
an~snessmmasassas~saissmansainaasseamane°{::'d
Daily Photo by ANDY FREEBERG
MICHIGAN'S MIKE McGEE puts up two of his game high 23 points in the Wol-
verines' 65-63 victory over Michigan State in East Lansing. Spartans Earvin John-
son (left) and Greg Kelser'(32) plus Wolverine Paul Heuerman (15) anticipate a
rebound.
BLUE COACH FORESEES TOUGH MEET:
Sl.u mping tankers
By TOM STEPHENS divers in the country as well as being they
Michigan's men's swimming team strong in the freestyle," said Stager. ances
travels to Columbus this weekend for "It should be a close meet and they Ferna
a dual meet with Ohio State. And to are always very, very tough in their who w
hear Blue coach Gus Stager talk home pool." He cited especially the State
about it, the tankers are in for a Buckeye divers' advantage in using sopho
tough time. their home boards. man.
The Wolverines are coming off "They do have some advantages," in thn
successive Big Ten losses to Indiana he conceded, "but I think we've got butte
and Wisconsin, and Stager sees the the edge as long as we don't make TH
Buckeyes as a threat second only to mistakes like against Wisconsin. We seem
the perennial conference champion have to swim intelligently and in mers
Hoosiers. control of the race." forwa
"THEY HAVE six of the best If the tankers hope to win tonight week
facre ri
will have to get top perform-
from freshman freestylers
ando Canales and Bob Murray,
will be expected to hold off Ohio
's strong sprinters. In addition,
omore Paul Griffith and fresh-
Kevin Williamson may compete
ree races to bolster the Blue in
rfly and medley events.
E TWO RECENT losses do not
to have bothered the swim-
' morale much. They still look
ard to the conference meet the
end of March 2 where( Stager
sto improve on last year's
h place finish. Hefeels that
a few swimmers improved
times enough last week against
ina to indicate that they should
Cdy by then.
addition to such Buckeye stand-
4
outs as Dave Kulthar - whose time
of 21.27 seconds in the 50 free is better
than anything the Wolverines have
been able to muster - the tankers
will have to adapt to the unusual Ohio
State pool. Buckeye coach Dick Sloan
calls it "the second fastest pool in the
country" and Stager says that the
flat walls at either end make it very
difficult to swim.
Ohio State is hampered by injuries
and sickness affecting three or four
of their key swimmers. The fact that
they have had three meets cancelled
this year because of weather has
further hindered the Buckeyes' per-,
formance. In fact, last week theygot
their first taste of competition in over
a month and this lack of activitiy
could result in some rustiness.
TOUGH BA TTLE WITH MINN. -D UL UTH
Michigan goes into overtime,
7-7
hopes
fourth
quite
their
Indiar
be rea
In a
By BOB MILLER
Special to The Daily
DULUTH-A pair of late third period
goals by Mark Pavelich and Curt Giles
brought the Duluth Bulldogs back from
a 7-5 deficit to tie the Michigan icers
and send the game into overtime last
night at 7-7.
The Wolverines played with the spark
that had been missing lately in a fast-
paced and highly-entertaining first
period. Michigan used fundamen-
tals--forechecking, backchecking, and
positional defense-in other words, the
way the game was designed to be
played.
When the Wolverines went back to the
basics, the game generally went their
way. Mike Coffman scored on a
breakaway at 10:06 of the first period
as all five Michigan skaters were inside
especially the Wolverines, as five dif-
ferent players fluffed "easy chances.",
At one point, the Bulldogs' goalie Rick
Heinz stopped Dan Lerg and Bill
Thayer and a two on none shorthanded
effort.
The saves were 14-13 in Michigan's
favor, but a better indication of the
wide open hockey played at the Duluth
arena was that the Bulldogs attempted
28 shots on goal while the Wolverines
blasted 40 towards Heinz.
IT WAS only a matter of time before
the game blew wide open and the
players started connecting with their
shots. In the first seven and a half
minutes of the middle stanza there
were four penalties and the same
amount of goals.
However, one of the Duluth goals was
disallowed when the player (UMD's
Palmer), was detected using an illegal
stick. Instead of a tie game 2-2,
Michigan retained its one-goal lead that
they achieved less than two minutes in-
to the period. Then Lerg converted on a
rebound of kip Maurer's shot,
backhanding it - high over the fallen
goalie.~
Palmer was given a 10-minute
misconduct for using the illegal stick. It
didn't matter, as the loose Kurt Giles
officially tied the game on a power play
goal.
GILES SCORED again three and a
half minutes later to give the Bulldogs
their first lead of the night, 3-2.
Maurer and John Rothstein traded
goals midway through the period,
keeping Duluth's one-goal lead intact
headed into the final 20 minutes of ac-
tion.
MARK MILLER stunned the crowd
with a goal just 11 seconds into the third
period to tie the game at 4-4. Lerg
scored his second of the night just 45
seconds later to push Michigan out in
front when he cut acr-,ss the middle of
the ice and let fly with an unassisted
goal.
Dave McDonald tied it up at the five
minute mark as he took a pass and went
in alone on Palmer. He unleashed a shot
at the top of the circle that beat the
goalie cleanly.
ISCORES I
~piv'4 '(the tri4
Women cagers crunched
Special to The Daily
Michigan's women cagers were beaten by Illinois 79-55 in the first round
of the Big Ten tournament yesterday at West Lafayette.
The loss eliminated the Wolverines, who had just beaten the Illini 81-78
last Saturday at Crisler Arena.
Michigan trailed by eight at the half before Illinois pulled away in the
second half. Pacing the Blue scorers we're Abby Currier with 17 points and
Brenda Venhuizen with 10.
In other first round action Indiana upset Northwestern 61-59, Purdue
topped Iowa 72-63, and Ohio State bombed Wisconsin 73-49.
* * *
Nets pop Pistons
From Wire Service reports
A squeaker!
FIRST PERIOD
UMD-McCullock (holding) 8:50; M-H oene